Purple Light Nights started small in Covington a year ago but is already spreading across the country.

Victoria Throm, president of the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force, started the campaign last year as part of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“When we started, it was selling just the individual light bulbs and we were promoting it in and around the county,” Throm said. “Then it just grew and it got a lot of media attention.”

This year, there are 16 domestic violence awareness groups in nine states participating, and Throm hopes that this time next year the movement will have spread to all 50 states.

“Several parents who lost their daughters called me and said that they really appreciated that Washington hadn’t forgotten their daughters,” she said. “One mother started her own campaign in Madras County, Ore. With the success we had last year, we decided to take this nationally.”

There is now a Web site, as well as a logo for the campaign that came out of a contest.

At www.purplelightnights.org, there are templates and step-by-step directions for anyone wanting to start their own campaign.

“We’re encouraging other cities and states to use that,” Throm said. “I sent out an e-mail to all the state (anti-domestic violence) coalitions about what we were doing. The entire state of Maine is doing this, so that’s very exciting, while in other states individual cities are participating.”

Throm is excited to have support from Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert.

In August, McKenna “called and said they were hosting a conference for attorney generals,” Throm said. “He had me bring brochures and other information and he announced it, challenging other states to participate, so that was really valuable.”

And on Sept. 22, the Metropolitan King County Council officially offered its support, recognizing the effort with an official proclamation.

“This group is raising awareness and sending a message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in our community,” said Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose district includes Covington, Maple Valley and Black Diamond. “Purple Light Nights is an innovative way to raise awareness and give strength to victims.”

In addition to King County, Thurston, Pierce and Snohomish counties and the city of Seattle are recognizing Purple Light Nights during October.

Throm said the support of the city of Covington has also been invaluable. Her day job is at City Hall as a personnel and human services analyst.

“I give a lot of thanks to our city manager,” Derek Matheson, she said, adding, “Our City Council has been so supportive and really has allowed me to use time at work because they feel it’s a really important service to the community.”

Covington also issued a proclamation at its Sept. 23 council meeting recognizing Purple Light Nights and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Anyone can buy a purple light bulb and install it at home, or they can buy a string of purple lights and put them in a window or string them in a tree. Another option for businesses is to sponsor a tree for $100, and the Domestic Violence Task Force will handle the installation.

“Past victims of domestic violence will see these lights and know that the community continues to care,” said City Councilman Wayne Snoey. “Current victims will be reminded that support exists for them and we hope they will seek it.”

Last weekend, volunteers from Bible Alliance Church helped Throm install lights on 14 trees around Covington Plaza.

In addition, there are 10 confirmed sponsorships from businesses or private individuals for trees that will be lit purple. There’s room for more.

“Every tree will have a sign with statistics on them, while others will be specifically in memory of a victim,” Throm said. “We’re hoping people will wander around and read the signs.”

Proceeds from sales of the lights go to help domestic violence victims.

“It’s two-fold,” Throm said. “It allows us to continue our awareness education in the community, and most importantly it gives us some funds to provide services to the victims of domestic violence. For instance, a couple years ago there was a family from Covington that was fleeing from an abusive situation and there was no room in the shelter, so we were able to pick up the motel voucher so they could stay in a motel until they could get into housing.”

Throm hopes that as Purple Light Nights continues to grow, so will people’s desire to help.

“We just want the word out, we want to raise awareness, we want to get that message out that domestic violence has no place in our community,” she said. “It’s just sad that these issues are still going on.”

Staff writer Kris Hill can be reached at (425) 432-1209 (extension 5054) and khill@reporternewspapers.com